Messi wins best FIFA player of the year for record sixth time

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi speaks after winning the Best FIFA Men's player award REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

Milan, Italy (Reuters) - Argentine Lionel Messi beat Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo to win the best FIFA player of the year award for a record sixth time on Monday.

Messi, who won the Spanish La Liga title with Barcelona last season as well as the European golden boot having scored 54 goals in 58 games in all competitions, last won the award in 2015.

He did not, however, enjoy success with the national team, losing in the Copa America semi-finals to rivals Brazil.

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi speaks after winning the Best FIFA Men's player award as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, presenter's Ilaria D’Amico and Ruud Gullit look on REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

His win is somewhat of a surprise with Van Dijk, a centre back who transformed Liverpool's defence on the way to the Champions League crown, having won the European best player award.

Messi's win at the La Scala Opera house in Milan also marks a return to the dominance of the Argentine and Ronaldo, who between them have won the award all but once since 2007.

U.S. co-captain Megan Rapinoe won the women's top award after helping her country to the World Cup title this year in a tournament considered to be a milestone in the development and expansion of women's football internationally.

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FC Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Eden Hazard line up on stage as part of the FIFA FIFPro Men's world eleven players during the awards REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

"I'm at a loss for words," she said. "This was an incredible year for women's football, for those who just noticed you are a bit late to the party. It truly was incredible, to be part of the World Cup, the enthusiasm we had was amazing."

Rapinoe, a strong off-the-field activist who also refused a potential visit the White House when the U.S. were on track to retain their world title, said players should use their success to help others.

"I ask everyone here, lend your platform to other people, share your success. We have a unique opportunity to use this game to actually change the world for better. I hope you take that to heart, do something, we have incredible power in this room."

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi with the Best FIFA Men's player award as presenter's Ilaria D’Amico and Ruud Gullit look on REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

She beat fellow co-captain Alex Morgan and England's Lucy Bronze.

Liverpool's Juergen Klopp was voted men's coach of the year while U.S. national team coach Jill Ellis took home the best women's coach trophy.

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi after winning the Best FIFA Men's player award with the winner of the Best FIFA Women's player award USA women's Megan Rapinoe and the winner of the Best FIFA Women's coach award USA women's coach Jill Ellis REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 Presenter Ruud Gullit shakes hands with FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi after Messi won the Best FIFA Men's player award while presenter Ilaria D’Amico and FIFA President Gianni Infantino look on REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi poses with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their sons after winning the Best FIFA Men's player award REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi with the Best FIFA Men's player award as presenter's Ilaria D’Amico and Ruud Gullit look on REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi poses after winning the Best FIFA Men's player award with the winner of the Best FIFA Women's player award USA women's Megan Rapinoe REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi poses after winning the Best FIFA Men's player award with the winner of the Best FIFA Men's coach award Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, winner of the Best FIFA Women's player award USA women's Megan Rapinoe and the winner of the Best FIFA Women's coach award USA women's coach Jill Ellis REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo